The Importance of a Master's Degree in Today's Economy)Georgia Schumacher)1/31/2013<p>Due to increased stiff competition among potential employees and the global economic crisis, job http://www.argosy.edu/our-community/blog/the-importance-of-a-masters-degree-in-todays-economy

The Importance of a Master's Degree in Today's Economy

Due to increased stiff competition among potential employees and the global economic crisis, job searching has become an uphill task for many people during recent years. Studies have shown that people are tirelessly equipping themselves with the necessary skills to get them a lucrative job and keep them there. In the past, having a bachelor’s degree was enough. However, there has been an increase in demand for master’s graduates. This has dampened the hope of many undergraduates and even some degree holders of finding a good job.

A study conducted by Times Higher Education revealed that there has been a tremendous increase in the number of master’s courses being taught. The findings also showed that employers are adding more value to postgraduates, hence discerning between just good employees and exceptional ones. But why is the master’s graduate preferred to the bachelor’s degree graduate?

Key professional skills Serious employers need employees who have the best skills for a particular profession. In order to acquire the best, one needs to take an extra mile in education, in this case undertaking a master’s degree and short courses. Master’s graduates tend to have better expertise in their profession, making them the most preferred candidates for top jobs. Skills such as critical and creative thinking, project management, IT, communication, data analysis, independent thinking as well as problem-solving are best acquired and instilled when undertaking a master’s degree.

Niche-based Most bachelor’s degree graduates deal with a wide scope of a particular job. They tend to know a little of everything, but are masters of no particular niche. This makes them unfit for sensitive jobs that require high proficiency levels. Master’s graduates on the other hand seem to have a little knowledge about everything and also everything about a particular area. They therefore tend to be the best for consultation and problem-solving.

Credibility Profit-driven companies require employees who are assets and not liabilities. To be a treasured asset in a company, a master’s degree is mandatory. Clients tend to trust the most learned people. Having such a person in a company will indubitably boost sales. Studies have showed that most master’s graduates are offered lucrative jobs even without looking for them.

Relevance Master’s graduates are always relevant in their field. They are always at par with the required level of education and prowess. Any employer would want to have the very best and pay the best to aid the growth of the company.

Enhanced employability One of the factors that employers look at is the employability of a candidate. Master’s graduates tend to go through dissertation, course work and taught modules. This combination helps them develop skills such as the ability to meet deadlines, organizational skills and time management. They therefore attract numerous employers.